First off, I want to go ahead and say that the gameplay of AC4 was great, and the visuals were beautiful. I've played every game in the series (save Liberation), gotten every achievement, etc. and am a big fan. I've written a lengthy positive review of the series which you can find here (http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/progressive-videogame-saturday.html).

That said, I'm very concerned about the direction of the series away from what has made it truly stand out from the crowd: the magic of its history, its mythology and its intellectual appeal. AC isn't the best fighting game out there: Arkham beats it by a mile there. It's not the best free-running game, either. Or the best stealth game.

What AC has that others don't is amazing depth, educational content, and a story that reimagines and reinterprets history in extremely interesting ways. The premise of the Ones Who Came Before, the gutsy reinterpretation of monotheistic creation myths, and the overall storyline are amazing. The ability to roam around realistic recreations of historic locations, interact in history-changing ways with real people, and learn about real places and events of the time through detailed encyclopedias mixed with irreverent humor really is at the heart and soul of AC. Becoming the anonymous soldier who tossed Cesare off the bridge, being the guy who helped Suleiman the Magnificent rise to power, this is the real magic of AC. Shaun Hastings' commentaries on the complexities of the Revolutionary War were golden nuggets in AC3, too.

Perhaps that greatest moments of the series for me came in the puzzles of ACII: Brotherhood, when the grand battle between Assassins and Templars was shown to encompass Alan Turing, the Federal Reserve, the coups of Mossadegh and Pinochet, and even John Roberts and Citizens United. It was a far greater and more memorable thrill than boarding my 86th frigate for mid-battle repairs.

As good as it was, AC4 marked a major shift away from all of this. Its connection to the historical figures of the Golden Age of Piracy was tangential at best (though the Mary Read bits were often quite good), and it wasn't at all clear how or why the Observatory played into the overall narrative. The encyclopedia was scant, and the social commentary in past games was practically nonexistent. The game didn't inspire me to learn more about the figures of the era as previous versions did, nor am I at all tempted to run a second playthrough.

Those who want to get rid of the modern day elements because they're "boring" remind me of the kiddies who like the Star Wars prequels better because the originals are "boring." A great creative company doesn't pander to that mindset by going to the lowest common denominator.

Please stay true to what has made AC great. Your story and premise are magnificent, and there are a lot of gamers like me who really appreciate the attention to detail and history the other games got. Without that, it's just a historical action game that uncomfortably mixes stealth, fighting, free-running and minigames but does none of them particularly better than other games.

AC's greatness is in its universe, and in the respect for its players' intelligence that other games simply don't give. I hope it stays that way.

killzab

12-12-2013, 11:22 AM

Sorry but you're going to be greated by people who say you like the series for the wrong reasons.

Ubi has given up on the whole mystery and metastory and prefers to cater to new players who don't give a **** about the story of the series and are in for the killing and the "bad *** pirate" aspect. Sad truth.

Hans684

12-12-2013, 11:23 AM

Those who want to get rid of the modern day elements because they're "boring" remind me of the kiddies who like the Star Wars prequels better because the originals are "boring." A great creative company doesn't pander to that mindset by going to the lowest common denominator.

AC's greatness is in its universe, and in the respect for its players' intelligence that other games simply don't give. I hope it stays that way.

^This

Anyway i respect your opinion, but the magic of AC is the magic you make it either it is "boring" modern day or a "flat" ancestral story in the past.
To me the oldest games hade the most "faceless" city's, the was no feeling of the city's being so "alive" as AC3/ACIVBF but the beauty of the Renissance made up for AC2/ACR, but not AC1/ACB. Sure the city's had sound but it's "feel" was "faceless".

AC4 does that too, we inspired Stede Bonnet to abandon his boring life and become a pirate, we were present when the Spanish treasure fleet sunk, we assisted in the creation of the pirate republic, we helped Blackbeard threat Charlestown, we helped Vane break the British blockade and escape Nassau, we fought on the battle where Blackbeard was defeated, we were there together with Vane when Calico Jack rebelled and left him on a deserted island, we were the ones who caused Hornigold to "disappear" in a storm, we helped Anne Bonny escape prison, we saved Roberts and his crew from the Portuguese and we helped him steal a ship from the middle of a massive Portuguese fleet and later we were in the battle where he was killed and we were the cannon bullet who struck his throat and we were the cause why Torres suddenly disappeared from the records, among other things i may have forgotten.

TAZ427

12-12-2013, 03:29 PM

First off, I want to go ahead and say that the gameplay of AC4 was great, and the visuals were beautiful. I've played every game in the series (save Liberation), gotten every achievement, etc. and am a big fan. I've written a lengthy positive review of the series which you can find here (http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/progressive-videogame-saturday.html).

That said, I'm very concerned about the direction of the series away from what has made it truly stand out from the crowd: the magic of its history, its mythology and its intellectual appeal. AC isn't the best fighting game out there: Arkham beats it by a mile there. It's not the best free-running game, either. Or the best stealth game.

What AC has that others don't is amazing depth, educational content, and a story that reimagines and reinterprets history in extremely interesting ways. The premise of the Ones Who Came Before, the gutsy reinterpretation of monotheistic creation myths, and the overall storyline are amazing. The ability to roam around realistic recreations of historic locations, interact in history-changing ways with real people, and learn about real places and events of the time through detailed encyclopedias mixed with irreverent humor really is at the heart and soul of AC. Becoming the anonymous soldier who tossed Cesare off the bridge, being the guy who helped Suleiman the Magnificent rise to power, this is the real magic of AC. Shaun Hastings' commentaries on the complexities of the Revolutionary War were golden nuggets in AC3, too.

Perhaps that greatest moments of the series for me came in the puzzles of ACII: Brotherhood, when the grand battle between Assassins and Templars was shown to encompass Alan Turing, the Federal Reserve, the coups of Mossadegh and Pinochet, and even John Roberts and Citizens United. It was a far greater and more memorable thrill than boarding my 86th frigate for mid-battle repairs.

As good as it was, AC4 marked a major shift away from all of this. Its connection to the historical figures of the Golden Age of Piracy was tangential at best (though the Mary Read bits were often quite good), and it wasn't at all clear how or why the Observatory played into the overall narrative. The encyclopedia was scant, and the social commentary in past games was practically nonexistent. The game didn't inspire me to learn more about the figures of the era as previous versions did, nor am I at all tempted to run a second playthrough.

Those who want to get rid of the modern day elements because they're "boring" remind me of the kiddies who like the Star Wars prequels better because the originals are "boring." A great creative company doesn't pander to that mindset by going to the lowest common denominator.

Please stay true to what has made AC great. Your story and premise are magnificent, and there are a lot of gamers like me who really appreciate the attention to detail and history the other games got. Without that, it's just a historical action game that uncomfortably mixes stealth, fighting, free-running and minigames but does none of them particularly better than other games.

AC's greatness is in its universe, and in the respect for its players' intelligence that other games simply don't give. I hope it stays that way.

I'll have to call BS on this. It was no less historically significant time, and these were no less historical figures. I give AC credit for pulling the story line around and showing the life of pirates in a bold light.

MnemonicSyntax

12-12-2013, 03:51 PM

First off, I want to go ahead and say that the gameplay of AC4 was great, and the visuals were beautiful. I've played every game in the series (save Liberation), gotten every achievement, etc. and am a big fan. I've written a lengthy positive review of the series which you can find here (http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/progressive-videogame-saturday.html).

That said, I'm very concerned about the direction of the series away from what has made it truly stand out from the crowd: the magic of its history, its mythology and its intellectual appeal. AC isn't the best fighting game out there: Arkham beats it by a mile there. It's not the best free-running game, either. Or the best stealth game.

What AC has that others don't is amazing depth, educational content, and a story that reimagines and reinterprets history in extremely interesting ways. The premise of the Ones Who Came Before, the gutsy reinterpretation of monotheistic creation myths, and the overall storyline are amazing. The ability to roam around realistic recreations of historic locations, interact in history-changing ways with real people, and learn about real places and events of the time through detailed encyclopedias mixed with irreverent humor really is at the heart and soul of AC. Becoming the anonymous soldier who tossed Cesare off the bridge, being the guy who helped Suleiman the Magnificent rise to power, this is the real magic of AC. Shaun Hastings' commentaries on the complexities of the Revolutionary War were golden nuggets in AC3, too.

Perhaps that greatest moments of the series for me came in the puzzles of ACII: Brotherhood, when the grand battle between Assassins and Templars was shown to encompass Alan Turing, the Federal Reserve, the coups of Mossadegh and Pinochet, and even John Roberts and Citizens United. It was a far greater and more memorable thrill than boarding my 86th frigate for mid-battle repairs.

As good as it was, AC4 marked a major shift away from all of this. Its connection to the historical figures of the Golden Age of Piracy was tangential at best (though the Mary Read bits were often quite good), and it wasn't at all clear how or why the Observatory played into the overall narrative. The encyclopedia was scant, and the social commentary in past games was practically nonexistent. The game didn't inspire me to learn more about the figures of the era as previous versions did, nor am I at all tempted to run a second playthrough.

Those who want to get rid of the modern day elements because they're "boring" remind me of the kiddies who like the Star Wars prequels better because the originals are "boring." A great creative company doesn't pander to that mindset by going to the lowest common denominator.

Please stay true to what has made AC great. Your story and premise are magnificent, and there are a lot of gamers like me who really appreciate the attention to detail and history the other games got. Without that, it's just a historical action game that uncomfortably mixes stealth, fighting, free-running and minigames but does none of them particularly better than other games.

AC's greatness is in its universe, and in the respect for its players' intelligence that other games simply don't give. I hope it stays that way.

But don't become so intelligent that you sound pretentious, which you do here. Which means that you're not respecting other players intelligence, regardless of how much you think that Ubi is pandering to the lowest common denominator.

I get what you're saying and I agree with some of it, but the way you say it is most disturbing part. You seem to want Ubi to pander to just you instead, because there are many people here who have stated that they are enjoying their XX play through or found the characters so interesting, that they're doing more research on the characters than in previous AC titles.

And as Ze_Topazio stated, the history is there, tied together neatly with Edward. Just like Connor tied everything together and "did it all" during the Revolutionary War. A little farfetched and because of that, it's been reduced this go around which in my opinion is good.

Lastly, you're forgetting the facts. Ubisoft is trying to pander to everyone, including the LCD. Also, the fact remains, this is a game. People play games to enjoy themselves. Some people enjoy puzzles, or back story, but at the end of the day, Assassin's Creed is an Action/Adventure, which is what people want the most. Not a book to read or a Rubik's Cube to solve.

lothario-da-be

12-12-2013, 04:09 PM

I am 12 years old and what is this?

pirate1802

12-12-2013, 04:37 PM

I am 12 years old and what is this?

Porn

pirate1802

12-12-2013, 04:40 PM

But yeah, I find the modern day parts boring but I sure as hell am not a kid, not a new casual fan either. Perplexing. Makes me almost feel guilty for not liking something which all H4rDC0R3 AC fans are supposed to like.

lothario-da-be

12-12-2013, 05:55 PM

Porn
What is Porn?

pirate1802

12-12-2013, 06:11 PM

What is Porn?

The thing that Haytham and Ziio did after the scene cut to black.

lothario-da-be

12-12-2013, 06:27 PM

The thing that Haytham and Ziio did after the scene cut to black.
I still don't understand, i'll go ask my mom.

pirate1802

12-12-2013, 06:40 PM

I still don't understand, i'll go ask my mom.

Please do and do tell us what she says. :p

lothario-da-be

12-12-2013, 06:48 PM

Please do and do tell us what she says. :p
She said she would tell me when I am 18! Thats 6 more years :( . She looked a bit pissed idk, like i just asked for a condom haha.

pirate1802

12-12-2013, 06:56 PM

She said she would tell me when I am 18! Thats 6 more years :( . She looked a bit pissed idk, like i just asked for a condom haha.

Wait, how do you know what a condom is, if you don't know what porn is?

lothario-da-be

12-12-2013, 06:57 PM

Wait, how do you know what a condom is, if you don't know what porn is?
I learned about it previous year, when i was still in elementary school.

STDlyMcStudpants

12-12-2013, 07:02 PM

Havent read the post (too long) but 100% agree with the title. :D
Nothing is true, everything is permitted
I want to doubt history books again! :D